Page 104 of Capturing Sin

“We’re not exactly in a position to continue our work…” I trailed off.

I swallowed as my uncle’s inscrutable features twitched at the hint of dissent.

“You’re mistaken. I’ve secured assistance from our London allies, and the team recovered several fridges from the labs while you were off gallivanting. It’s now more important than ever that we purge the evil haunting our city.” He slammed a clenched fist down in a rare display of emotion that had the sheathed knife on his desk jumping.

Good to know killing demons ranked as more important than whether I’d died.

I nodded, as if the idea of experimenting on demons didn’t cause bile to rise in my throat.

Leo slung an arm across the back of my chair, and I stiffened at the contact.

He twisted in his seat, invading my personal space like he had a right to it. “Despite our…issues, I believe in you, Liliana. You were always smart. If you just worked harder, I know you’d find something to help us win this war.”

Wow.

The audacity of this boy knew no bounds. Literally none.

For some reason, my mind latched onto that word: smart.

My lips twitched as I remembered all the times Sin had questioned my supposed intelligence. The mirth died before it could fully form. I’d ruined whatever strange connection had grown between us.

You know, by getting his brother killed.

“Yes, I’ll try super hard.” Even to my own ears, the sarcasm leeched through. I cleared my throat, ignoring the tightness as I buried my true feelings. “For the good of humanity.”

But I’d never again be responsible for torturing another soul. Not that I could tell my uncle or ex.

“I knew we could count on you.” My uncle’s bland tone really added to his dedicated serial killer vibe. “Leo will show you to your new lab to set up.” He turned to the hunter in question. “Let her have her pick of the beasts and don’t touch any she chooses. We can’t risk hindering her progress.”

Oh god. They already had captives.

I choked back the manic laughter that bubbled up. A naive part of me had hoped the screams from down the corridor had been an injured hunter getting first aid.

Leo stood, the abrupt screech of his chair on the hardwood grating on my frayed nerves.

This couldn’t be happening.

On autopilot, my body copied my traitorous ex. I nodded as if the unhinged movements would cause both psychos to think I was in complete agreement rather than descending into my own madness.

Leo shared a final pointed look with his leader before striding out of the office.

I couldn’t look back. Instead, I followed my ex down the stark corridor. Agonised groans echoed louder with each step.

I braced as he unlocked one of the unmarked doors, and promptly threw up on his shoes.

Chapter 41

Abattered cage dominated one wall. Inside, three demons huddled together. The tallest one’s horns almost brushed the top bars, and she half hid the other two behind her bulk.

A fourth demon writhed in metal restraints on a dining table in the middle of the room, giving the others a prime view of the broken male. Navy blood dripped off the wooden surface to pool onto the tarp lining the floor beneath.

“The fuck is wrong with you?” Leo snarled, glaring down at the wet chunks on his combat boots.

I wiped a shaky hand across my mouth. “Must have eaten something dodgy,” I croaked.

“Bathroom is at the end of the hall.” He jerked his thumb, as if I hadn’t been here countless times, disgust curling his upper lip. “I’ll get you something to clean this up.” He strode off before I could respond, disappearing back into the main reception area.

I ignored his directive, stepping over my vomit and deeper into the nightmare.

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